Shoe



C. TWEEDIE SHOE Filed Nov. 7, 1938 May 6, 1941.

Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE l SHOE CharlesTweedie, Jefferson City, Mo. Application November v, 1938,seria1No.2s9,222

(ci. 31a- 51) 3 Claims.

ber fabric, commercially known as lastex, that is adhesively united tothe unfinished side of said outer layer. With such material,- thedesired elasticity is obtained by preshrinking the outer or inner layeror by applying the inner layer to the outer layer in a stretchedcondition.

In such pump type shoes, it is customary to omit the vamp and quarterlinings because they tend to detract from or interfere with the footconforming qualities of the stretchable or elasticized upper material.The omission of such linings necessitates use of a binding for thevsupport, protection and ornamentation of the exposed free edges oftheupper, particularly the edge which forms the foot opening of the shoe.In some cases this binding consists of a thinv and narrow lastex tape orwebbing stitched to the exposed edge of the upper and additional elasticwebbing yfor rendering the edge more durable. A practical objection tothis method lof binding is the cost thereof and the stillness impartedtothe upper around said binding.

Another common method is to skive the exposed edge of the upper and toapply a rubber cement thereto, fold the skived margin upon the body ofthe upper, press the fold and then apply elastic webbing to said foldedmargin and to said body by means of zigzag stitching. A practicalobjection to this manner of binding the edge of the upper is that itlacks the desired elasticity, and the skiving weakens the material andis liable to cause it to crack and tear under service conditions.Furthermore, since lthe elastic webbing is attached to the upper byzigzag stitching, with said webbing overlapping the folded margin of theupper, portions of the edges of the webbing are not stitched, thuscausing the exposed' finished edges of the upper to present an unsightlyor puckered appearance.

The present invention has for its principal objects to provides. shoeupper of the above type with an edge binding that will maintain itsshape and elasticity, that will prevent puckering, that will present awell finished and ornamental appearance, and that will be strong anddurable and economical to produce. The invention consists in the shoehereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification andwherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig.y 1 is a perspective view of a pump-type shoe having an upperembodying my invention.

Fig, 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary face view, showing the webbing disposed in`abutting relation to the marginal edge of the upper material and securedthereto by means of zigzagl stitching and the cement applied to saidmargin and webbing,

Fig. l is a cross-section on the line 4 4 in Fig. 43, A

Figs; 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 3'and 4, respectively, showingthe margin and the webbing attached thereto folded over and cementedilatwise to the body of the upper and the webbing further secured tosaid body by a line of zigzag stitching,

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, showinga modified construction wherein the line of zigzag stitching thatsecures the webbing to the body portion of the upper also secures thefolded over marginal portion thereto,

Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing another modication of theinvention; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on the line itl-I0 in Fig. 9.

In the accompanying drawing, my invention is shownembodied in apump-type shoe whose upper comprises a main member A which is made ofthe commercially known prefabricated stretchable or elasticized materialhereinbefore described which has a fair degree of elasticity andincludes a relatively inelastic outer layer A adhesively or otherwisepermanently united to an relastic inner or backing layer B.

According to the present invention, the upper has its marginal portionfolded inwardly and downwardly, as at I, around the foot opening, and astrip of elastic webbing 2 extends along the edge of said folded marginand is secured edgewise thereto preferably by means of zigzag arepreferably secured to the body portion thereof by latex or othersuitable cement 4. Instead of locating the zigzagstitching E entirelybelow the folded over margin I of the upper, said stitching may beapplied, as indicated at 5a in Figs. 7 and 8, so as to pass through theedge of said folded margin as well as the elastic webbing.

In the process o f manufacture, the elastic webbing 2 is first securededgewise to the margin of the upper by means of the zigzag stitching 3.The latex cement 4 is then applied to the inner or unfinished side ofthe margin of the upper and the corresponding side of the webbing and l'said margin with said webbing attached thereto is then folded overiatwise upon lthe inner surface of the upper and pressed thereagainst,after which said webbing is further secured to the inner face cf theupper by means of the zigzag stitching 5 or 5a which passes through theupper and forms an ornamental line of stitching along the outer facethereof.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the relatively narrowelastic webbing 2a is secured to the top edge of the main member A ofthe upper by zigzag stitching 3a and constitutes the entire thickness ofthe shoe upper above 'the main member A. Said edge and strip are notfolded over and further secured to the upper. This arrangement dispenseswith the previously described folding, cementing and sewing operationsand thus saves the cost thereof.

eliminating the material required for folding and by further reducingthe area of the pattern or main member A by an amount equal-to the areaof the webbing 3a.

The hereinbefore described arrangement provides a well finished,ornamental and durable edge along the exposed edge of the upper withoutappreciably reducing the elasticity of the upper along the said edge andit also maintains -A saving of upper material is also effected by i itsshape and elasticity under service conditions. The hereinbeforedescribed process of nnishing the edge of the upper is simple andinexpensive compared with processes hereinbefore employed for finishingthe exposed edges of stretchable or elasticized uppers. f

While the hereinbefore described invention is particularly applicable toshoe material of the kind described, it is also applicable tostretchable leathers for shoe uppers that are fabricated without eithervamp or quarter linings.

Reference is hereby made to my copending application Serial No. 380,845iiled February 27, 1941, for subject matter divided out of thisapplication.-

What I claim is:

l1. In a shoe of the pump type, an upper having a foot opening thereinbounded by side, heel, and front edges, said upper adjacent said openingbeing composed of a prefabricatedstretchable material including arelatively inelastic outer layer united to an elastic backing layer, anda separate narrow strip of elastic webbing seated and attached inedgewise abutting relationship upon the side and front edges of saidupper and united in the heel portion of said opening to form an elasticbinding for holding said upper snugly upon the foot of a wearer of theshoe.

2. In a shoe of the pump type, an upper having an upper edge, andanarrow separate strip of material secured in edgewise abuttingrelationship to said upper edge of said upper over the entire lengththereof, at least a portion of the length of said strip of materialbeing of elastic webbing, the foot opening at the top edge of thewebbing in unstretched condition being smaller than the opening at thetop of the upper.

3. In a shoe as in claim 2, said narrow strip of material being elasticwebbing around the entire periphery of the upper edge of said upper.

CHARLES TWEEDIE.

